Upgrading win me to XP also addg 1g mem

Question

I just received my windows XP upgrade pkg and 1 gig mem chips. Can someone point me in the right direction as to where to find the info on how to do this. Which steps should be performed first. Also, will I need to upgrade my bios or does this come on the new XP sys. How do I know if my programs will be compatible? Have been having lots of trouble with upgrade internet explorer 5 to 6. Can't seem to download correctly. Microsofts site says I need to update but it also says I did update and install successful. IE says I'm still running vers 5. Service pks won't upgrade when I try? Got sick of the whole thing after many months of trying and switched to Netscape. Now I keep getting cut off there with diff. err msgs. ie: caused err in GKLAYOUT.DLL, NPTRIDENT.DLL, NPSWF32.DLL, XPCOM.DLL or err in unknown. Which is what IE did a lot of also. I have BlackIce firewall, EZ Antivirus, Spybot, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Doctor, Ad-Aware, and Registry Mechanic. I don't show any virus on the system and I don't know how much more I can put on to try and be protected! Any help would be 'GREATLY' appreciated. If I don't respond for a while, I'm having trouble staying on the net! Deb

daguerin · Answer

Forgot to mention that my computer is a Dimension 8100 Intel P4 CPU 1.8 Ghz, 256MB PC800 RDRAM, 40GB hard drive. Deb

Flooby · Answer

daguerin wrote:I just received my windows XP upgrade pkg and 1 gig mem chips. Can someone point me in the right direction as to where to find the info on how to do this.   Assuming you got the correct RAM for the system, you're headed in the right direction.  Your User Guide explains how to install memory, under the 'Removing and Replacing Parts' section.  You can also view instructions at the link below, but they're rather hard to follow if you have the system turned off during the process. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dsleest/rr.htm  Click on Memory, and be sure to read the Hints. Which steps should be performed first.Also, will I need to upgrade my bios or does this come on the new XP sys.  The BIOS is hardware, and has nothing to do with Windows XP.  If updates are available, I'd strongly recommend applying them after you install the memory, and before you install Windows XP.  The most recent version available is XP2, dated 11/29/2001.  Read the instructions that accompany the download (link below), and I'd recommend going with the Floppy version. http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8100&os=BIOSA&osl=en&deviceid=308&devlib=1&category=1&releaseid=R36258 Download/save the file to your desktop, insert a formatted floppy diskette, and double click the downloaded file to write the flash to the floppy diskette.  Then, restart the system with the diskette in the drive, and follow the instructions to update the BIOS.  How do I know if my programs will be compatible?  Most mainstream applications released in the last 2 years should be, but you can also run the Upgrade Advisor in advance. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/advisor.mspx Have been having lots of trouble with upgrade internet explorer 5 to 6.  Windows XP will take care of that for you. I have BlackIce firewall, Completely unnecessary with WinXP.  Try the built in firewall.  Much more reliable and easier to use. I have...Registry Mechanic.  Don't even bother installing this under WinXP.  XP takes care of the registry just fine by itself.  I don't show any virus on the system and I don't know how much more I can put on to try and be protected!  You're approaching overkill as it is... Once you get the memory installed and the BIOS updated, I'd recommend backing up any critical documents/files to external media, then booting to the Windows XP CD (you'll need to have your old ME CD handy to verify that you're eligible to use the Upgrade edition of XP - just watch for the prompt to momentarily insert the ME CD) - follow the instructions at the link below to format the hard drive and install Windows XP to the formatted drive (this is known as a Clean Installation, rather than an Upgrade Installation, and yes, you can do a Clean one with the Upgrade CD).  Yes, all your documents and settings will be erased when you format the drive.  Yes, you should still do a Clean Installation, rather than trying to save anything (other than to external media) from the current installation - the current installation is what's causing you all the problems. http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm  Procedures for Reinstalling or Upgrading to Windows XP http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps  Note thumbnail images for detailed screen shots of the complete process on left side of page. After you get Windows XP installed (and before you install much of anything else), it's important to visit Windows Update and install all available Critical Updates.  Do not visit any other web sites prior to updating Windows and getting your antivirus application installed and updated.  Assuming that your Upgrade CD includes Service Pack 2, you should have the option of activating the built in firewall as part of the process.  I'd recommend doing so as soon as you're prompted, and then make sure you get all Critical Updates installed.   Message Edited by Flooby on 06-14-2005 05:36 PM

daguerin · Answer

@daguerin wrote:
I just received my windows XP upgrade pkg and 1 gig mem chips. Can someone point me in the right direction as to where to find the info on how to do this. Which steps should be performed first. Also, will I need to upgrade my bios or does this come on the new XP sys. How do I know if my programs will be compatible? Have been having lots of trouble with upgrade internet explorer 5 to 6. Can't seem to download correctly. Microsofts site says I need to update but it also says I did update and install successful. IE says I'm still running vers 5. Service pks won't upgrade when I try? Got sick of the whole thing after many months of trying and switched to Netscape. Now I keep getting cut off there with diff. err msgs. ie: caused err in GKLAYOUT.DLL, NPTRIDENT.DLL, NPSWF32.DLL, XPCOM.DLL or err in unknown. Which is what IE did a lot of also. I have BlackIce firewall, EZ Antivirus, Spybot, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Doctor, Ad-Aware, and Registry Mechanic. I don't show any virus on the system and I don't know how much more I can put on to try and be protected! Any help would be "GREATLY" appreciated. If I don't respond for a while, I'm having trouble staying on the net! Deb

Thanks for "ALL" the info! Guess I've got some work to do. Will let you know how it goes. May not hear from me for a couple of days! Thanks again.
Deb

Flooby · Answer

It's not all that difficult if you prepare for the job properly (i.e., back up everything you'd lose during the format, like IE favorites, e-mail, address book, My Documents, etc.) and read the instructions carefully. Most folks run into problems when they skip a step or fail to read the Reinstall Guide completely.

You'll find that XP is much easier to install and work with than ME, particularly on a 4100. I've put XP on a bunch of those, and have yet to hear anyone say they'd rather go back to ME. The clean installation is the key to success, though. Upgrade installations just bring along many of the problems that existed before the new OS was added to the mix.

Keep it simple once you get XP on there, too. As was mentioned before, you certainly shouldn't need Black Ice or Registry Mechanic, and you might find that regular scans with up to date AdAware and Spybot S&D apps are all that's required to keep the malware off the system. I've had great success with Microsoft's Anti-Spyware Beta under WinXP, too, although I think I'll wait to see what they do about licensing it in July before I'd recommend it to the general public on a regular basis.

Good luck!

daguerin · Answer

Hi Flooby, I'm not done yet but getting there! I downloaded all updated drivers that I need and installed those compatible with Win ME and XP. Others will have to wait till I upgrade for compatibility as they tell me when I tried to install that they were not compatible with Win ME. Made 2 backup copies, one to cd and one to external hard drive. Deleted all files that are not compatible yet. Installed new memory ok! Couldn't get new bios for Win XP spk 2 to work. When I tried to boot from floppy, it starts to read A drive and says starting MS Dos then just hangs there with the cursor flashing. Stops reading A drive. No light or noise. After 10 minutes I rebooted and chg'd to boot from C drive. Downloaded Bios v A09 and installed. Could get back in to chg bios to boot back from C drive after that! Went back in and removed jumper from password protect on motherboard. Solved problem but after boot from C drive, A drive keeps running for about 10 seconds. Not a problem, just noisy. Tried to upgrade to Win XP SPK 2 bios and got same problem. Just hanging cursor. Should I just try to clean install Win XP with bios A09 and if all goes well, then try to update to new bios for spk 2 or leave well enough alone with bios A09? By the way, the system is a Dimension 8100, not 4100. Thanks again for the help. Deb

Flooby · Answer

@daguerin wrote:
Hi Flooby, I'm not done yet but getting there! I downloaded all updated drivers that I need and installed those compatible with Win ME and XP. Others will have to wait till I upgrade for compatibility as they tell me when I tried to install that they were not compatible with Win ME. Made 2 backup copies, one to cd and one to external hard drive. Deleted all files that are not compatible yet. Installed new memory ok! Couldn't get new bios for Win XP spk 2 to work. When I tried to boot from floppy, it starts to read A drive and says starting MS Dos then just hangs there with the cursor flashing. Stops reading A drive. No light or noise. After 10 minutes I rebooted and chg'd to boot from C drive. Downloaded Bios v A09 and installed. Could get back in to chg bios to boot back from C drive after that! Went back in and removed jumper from password protect on motherboard. Solved problem but after boot from C drive, A drive keeps running for about 10 seconds. Not a problem, just noisy. Tried to upgrade to Win XP SPK 2 bios and got same problem. Just hanging cursor. Should I just try to clean install Win XP with bios A09 and if all goes well, then try to update to new bios for spk 2 or leave well enough alone with bios A09? By the way, the system is a Dimension 8100, not 4100. Thanks again for the help. Deb

Assuming you downloaded and prepared the correct Floppy Diskette version of the WinXP BIOS onto the floppy diskette, you may have a problem with your floppy drive, if it's just hanging on startup. You might want to double check the installation instructions for the version/type you're attempting to flash, and make sure you're not missing anything. Clearing NVRAM (which just restores the setup defaults) via System Setup also resolves problems like this, on occasion. Instructions for doing this (direct from the Dell Knowledge Base) are:

"To clear the NVRAM, perform the following steps:

Restart your computer.

At the first text on the screen or at the Dell logo, press the F2 key every three seconds until the message Entering Setup appears.
The System Setup screen appears.

Press the Caps Lock key, the Scroll Lock key, and the Num Lock key to light up all three lights on the keyboard.

Press the Alt and E keys at the same time.
The system will emit a beep tone to indicate that NVRAM has been cleared.

Press the Esc key, and then press the Enter key to save the changes and reboot the system."

I think I'd be inclined to make every attempt to get the WinXP BIOS on there prior to installing XP, particularly if you're going to be performing a clean installation. It's been my experience that if a manufacturer makes a WinXP BIOS available, they usually have a pretty good reason for doing so. This doesn't mean that you couldn't get away with A09, but I'd shoot for the XP version, if at all possible.

As far as the drive activity on A: after boot goes, just go into My Computer and left click once on the C: drive to highlight it, then exit My Computer, and see if the A: activity ceases on subsequent reboots. In the event that it doesn't, right click on My Computer and select Properties, then go to the Performance tab, and click the File System button. Choose the Floppy Drive tab from there, and make sure "Search for new floppy disk drives..." is unchecked. If it isn't, uncheck it and press Apply and OK below, and that should take care of it.

daguerin · Answer

Went back to the site you gave me and re-downloaded bios vers for win xp sp2. tried again and no luck. Checked to see if floppy drive was working with another disk and all was ok. Went ahead and did a clean install of win xp version with sp2. All went well! Had printed out directions from all sites you listed and all were right on the money!!!! Have reinstalled hardware devices ie: printer, camera, external hard drive, speakers, new drivers sound card, etc. All doing fine! Have even imported my email addr. bk., msgs. and favorites with no problems!! Now starting to reload some of the software I had uninstalled. So far so good.
My question now is should I attempt to upgrade to the new bios for xp sp2 or leave well enough alone.
Thanks again for all the help.
Deb

Flooby · Answer

daguerin wrote:

My question now is should I attempt to upgrade to the new bios for xp sp2 or leave well enough alone.
Thanks again for all the help.

There are a good number of systems that run perfectly fine on WinXP without a BIOS version created especially for same. At the moment, I'm running it without any problem on an XPST450 (older than your 8100) and an Opti GX110SFF (also older), and have never experienced an error related to WinXP. I've also installed it on a number of other systems that are still running very well, and all their BIOS versions preceded the release of WinXP by some time.

If you look at the specific download page for a particular BIOS version, you'll see details regarding which characteristics/issues were addressed with a particular update. My advice would be that if you're not experiencing any issues a particular BIOS update addresses, then it's always a good idea to go by the old "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule, in which case you should be all set with the current version. If you do have a problem that one of the newer versions was intended to correct, you're probably going to have to get with Dell to get the right fix, if you're sure you're prepping the downloaded BIOS correctly. You are:

1. downloading the the new BIOS, then

2. double-clicking same and writing the downloaded file to the formatted floppy diskette (rather than just copying/saving the downloaded file to the floppy), and then

3. restarting the system with the floppy in the drive, and then following the instructions to flash the BIOS, aren't you?

Another possiblility is that the floppy you have the new flash on is bad. That's fairly common with floppies, and that's one of the reasons they're almost obsolete.

The Downloads site doesn't say what went into the XP1 version of the WinXP BIOS update for the 8100, and the XP2 version states only:

"1. Change the code from stuffing the keyboard buffer to setting a
CMOS bit for Access Direct."

Since Access Direct is pretty much worthless (or at the very least, unnecessary), I'd hardly be too concerned about getting that installed, but it would be nice to know what changes were made to create the XP1 version.

daguerin · Answer

Ooops. Forgot to mention that with the clean install of XP, my floppy disk problem with the 10 second running and searching is gone!:smileywink:

daguerin · Answer

Thanks. I should have mentioned that I thought the same about the floppy disc so I downloaded two more copies and tried. Still had the same problem. I think you're right about if it ain't broke don't try to fix it! Everything seems to be running well. Haven't finished loaded some of the bigger programs like MS Office and MS Works. I have alot of files I've saved for both of these programs which I use all the time. I also have to load my Quicked program. After that I'm done! If there are no problems with them I'll just keep running with the Bios A09 version. I can't thank you enough for all the time and help. You've been great! I've told all my friends about you and all the forums. Everyone couldn't believe all the info and help you provided. I really appreciate it! If I have any other problems I'll keep in touch (if:smileyvery-happy: even just to say Hi) "Mannnnnyyyyy Thanksssssss"!

Deb

Flooby · Answer

You're very welcome.  I think you'll find that your system works much much better with XP - just be sure to keep it updated via Windows Update, as there have been some significant functional and security improvements offered throughout the life cycle of the OS so far.  If you have a high speed internet connection, you should have no problem enabling automatic updates and keeping things current that way.  Auto Updating is another function that works far better under XP than it did under previous operating systems.

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Upgrading win me to XP also addg 1g mem

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